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Product safety and regulatory compliance in e-commerce and non-EU imports

TA-10-2025-0154 · P10_TA(2025)0154 · PE768.166

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

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Parliament's resolution on product safety and regulatory compliance in e-commerce and non-EU imports highlights the surge in non-compliant goods, calls for stronger enforcement, and urges reforms to protect consumers and EU businesses. It demands better funding and resources for authorities, enhanced cooperation, and new measures like a mandatory Digital Product Passport and a 'deemed importer' concept. It also calls for international cooperation, awareness campaigns, and action against unfair practices, while stressing the need to avoid overburdening compliant businesses.

Key points

  1. Highlights the increasing number of purchases on non-EU platforms and the circulation of harmful products, costing EU consumers EUR 19.3 billion annually.
  2. Notes that 4.6 billion e-commerce items under the EUR 150 exemption were imported in 2024, 91% from China, nearly double 2023's 2.4 billion.
  3. Stresses that most unsafe products arrive in small parcels from non-EU countries, making control difficult for customs and market surveillance authorities.
  4. Calls for full enforcement of existing laws like the DSA and GPSR, and for better implementation of 'know your business customer' obligations.
  5. Urges Member States to increase funding and resources for market surveillance, customs, and consumer protection authorities.
  6. Proposes a mandatory Digital Product Passport with early compliance verification for all e-commerce imports, integrated into the EU customs data hub.
  7. Calls for the swift removal of the EUR 150 customs duty exemption for high-risk imports and acceleration of the UCC reform.
  8. Supports the establishment of a new EU Customs Authority in 2026 to provide expert support and execute unannounced inspections.
  9. Calls for a handling fee on e-commerce items, but insists it not be incurred by the consumer and that Member States avoid unilateral fees.
  10. Urges the Commission to address manipulative practices like dark patterns in the upcoming Digital Fairness Act.
  11. Calls for enhanced international cooperation and trade defence instruments to counterbalance China's influence and ensure reciprocity.

Who is affected

  • EU consumers: exposed to unsafe products, but also benefit from e-commerce; need better information and redress.
  • EU businesses, especially SMEs: face unfair competition from non-compliant imports; need a level playing field.
  • Non-EU online platforms and traders: subject to new obligations like 'deemed importer' and traceability requirements.
  • National authorities (customs, market surveillance, consumer protection): need more resources and better coordination.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 19.3 billion per year wasted by EU consumers on dangerous products.
  • 4.6 billion e-commerce items under the EUR 150 exemption imported in 2024, 91% from China.
  • Up to 12 million small e-commerce items per day in 2024.
  • 2.4 billion items in 2023 and 1.4 billion in 2022.
  • EUR 150 exemption threshold for customs duties.
  • Flat EUR 2 rate per item or 50 cent fee for Trust and Check Traders proposed as handling fee.
  • Nearly EUR 8 billion annually cost of unfair commercial practices to consumers.